Chapter 4: The Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony, the Entire Sect Watches.
The day before the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.
"Xiao Lie, you're awakening your Martial Soul tomorrow, are you sure you don't want to rest for a day?"
"It's okay, Second Master, you should worry about not getting beaten out of the circle."
This kid is really confident.
Speaking of which, Yu Yuanhai couldn't remember how many times he had actually sparred with Xiao Lie.
Although he still couldn't use his full strength, his progress over the years was undoubtedly huge.
From the beginning, being touched was considered passing, to later being able to move his feet was considered winning, to now being able to successfully complete the challenge once he stepped out of the circle with a diameter of half a meter.
For Yu Yuanhai, a master of martial arts, this space was more than enough to completely overwhelm Yu Xiaolie.
"Second Master, watch out!"
Yu Xiaolie finally moved.
"This time, will you launch a surprise attack from the side and rear?"
Having accumulated a lot of experience, Yu Xiaolie accurately found the Second Master's blind spot and suddenly accelerated forward.
After closing the distance, he pushed off the ground with his left foot, his right leg poised to strike.
Yu Yuanhai couldn't help but shake his head inwardly: "Trying to end the fight in one blow by relying on explosive power to launch a spring kick? That's too naive."
However, to his surprise, Yu Xiaolie did not follow up with a kick, but instead used the power of pushing off the ground with his left foot to change the angle of attack.
Power rose from the ground, and a cannon punch with a whooshing sound slammed towards Yu Yuanhai's left ribs.
As if Yu Yuanhai had eyes in the back of his head, his right hand came out from under his left ribs and forcefully blocked the punch.
Yu Xiaolie changed his move in time, his right hand forming a claw and grabbing at the Second Master's wrist.
Once the wrist was captured, Yu Xiaolie would likely use his favorite locking technique to shift Yu Yuanhai's center of gravity.
Before his wrist could be captured, Yu Yuanhai's left hand reached back to grab Xiao Lie's neck. Once he had it, Xiao Lie's life would be in his hands.
Yu Xiao Lie ducked, dodging the claw attack and easily deflecting the fatal blow.
However, with his left hand still firmly restrained, it was impossible to quickly create distance and launch a new attack.
So, he retreated to close the distance, using his right elbow to deliver a "Iron Mountain Lean."
If this strike landed, with his current strength, it would be enough to knock the Second Master out of the circle.
Yu Yuanhai had no choice but to push against Yu Xiao Lie's elbow with both hands, while simultaneously tilting his body in another direction.
The Second Master's center of gravity finally shifted; this was the moment they had been waiting for!
Taking advantage of the opponent's unsteady stance, Yu Xiao Lie threw a left punch, while his right hand reached into the Second Master's shirt.
Yu Yuanhai had little room to dodge, so he had to block the punch with both hands, while Yu Xiao Lie's right hand grabbed the Second Master's belt.
Simultaneously, he lunged forward, transforming all his strength into a tremendous pushing force.
Yu Yuanhai had to steady himself, using his strength to regain his footing, but he still involuntarily took a half-step back.
"Second Master, you stepped on the line."
Yu Yuanhai followed Xiao Lie's gaze and saw that his right heel was indeed firmly planted on the edge of the circle.
He had thought this game could go on for a while, but it seemed he had underestimated this kid.
Yu Yuanhai laughed heartily: "Not bad, you won this time."
"Great!" Yu Xiao Lie jumped three feet high, as excited as a little leopard that had won its first battle.
During the sparring session, for a moment Yu Yuanhai was in a daze, as if he were facing a martial arts expert.
After several years of training, Xiao Lie's speed, strength, and skill were no less than that of an adult.
Only when he was triumphant did he display this childlike innocence, reminding people that he was still an immature child.
"Alright, that concludes today's combat lesson. Go take a shower, have some food, and then come with me to welcome your second and third uncles."
...
The awakening of the martial soul within the clan's bloodline has always been the most important event for the Blue Lightning Sect, surpassing everything else.
After all, it signifies the continuation of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex martial soul bloodline and the birth of new power within the sect.
However, this year's martial soul awakening is far more lively than usual, even grand in scale.
Even festivals or sacrificial rites might not see such a grand spectacle.
Within the sect, from the sect leader and elders to ordinary outer disciples and servants, everyone has been assigned their respective tasks.
Some social groups that have friendly relations or cooperative relationships with the sect have also sent representatives to participate.
Even disciples from various regions who have been working for the family's interests have returned to the sect to join in the grand event.
Sect Leader Yu Zhentian had long ago made up his mind to make this awakening ceremony a grand spectacle and regarded it as an opportunity to revitalize the Blue Lightning Sect's prestige.
Of course, this also contained the deeper meaning of flexing its muscles to the other two major sects. After all, without directly engaging in war, this method best demonstrated its own strength.
This time, he had placed all his bets on Yu Xiaogang and Yu Xiaolie.
No, to be precise, he had placed ninety percent of his hopes on Yu Xiaogang.
Once Yu Xiaogang successfully awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, he would reward him with the sect's most precious treasure, the "Dragon Scale Soft Armor."
After all, as the first in line to succeed the future sect leader, preserving his life during cultivation was the most important thing.
Everyone firmly believed that he would become the future Soul Douluo, leading the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect to glory.
Yu Xiaogang himself was brimming with confidence.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, he had long since stopped attending classes to study theoretical knowledge, and even his daily physical training had ceased.
He had already memorized the sect's methods for circulating soul power, feeling as if he could make his soul power circulate automatically with his eyes closed.
He had also mentally simulated the form of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Beast Soul countless times.
He was confident that once he awakened his Martial Soul, he would break through to the Soul Master realm in no time.
...
"Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony, begin!"
The most respected elder in the sect announced loudly, and the vast palace fell silent.
Following this, an ancient melody, seemingly from the primordial era, filled the air, its grandeur inspiring solemnity.
As the music played, patches of blue clouds gradually gathered in the sky, eventually forming a blue dome, with faint arcs of silver lightning flickering through the gaps.
Anyone with a discerning eye could immediately see that this spectacular, sky-covering phenomenon was the result of a treasure of the Blue Lightning Sect, and also the effect of the "Sky-Covering Umbrella," hailed as the empire's strongest defensive measure.
Due to its immense power, the resource consumption for each activation was staggering, so the Blue Lightning Sect would only reveal it lightly in a life-or-death situation.
As for the ancient melody, it likely came from another unknown ancient treasure, demonstrating the Blue Lightning Sect's profound resources accumulated over the years.
Such a grand display not only astonished the ordinary disciples attending the ceremony, but also caused whispers among those in the VIP seats:
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect has truly spared no expense this time! They must have spent years' worth of accumulated wealth for this grand ceremony."
"The Sky-Covering Umbrella, heh, I've only ever heard of it before, but seeing it today, it's truly extraordinary."
"If I'm not mistaken? This melody comes from the legendary, long-lost 'Thousand-Year Bell'?"
Soon, the clouds dissipated, the music ceased, and the palace returned to silence.
On the central platform, Yu Zhentian stepped forward, first welcoming the guests who had come to witness the ceremony.
"Now, the Martial Soul Awakening officially begins. Disciples of the Blue Lightning Sect awaiting awakening, line up and come forward."
Yu Xiaogang, the eldest grandson, was first in line. He followed instructions, entering the circle formed by soul stones and placing his hand on the crystal ball.
Yu Zhentian channeled his soul power, and a Douluo-level aura rose from his body. Blue mist gathered behind him, forming a massive blue Tyrannosaurus Rex phantom.
Starting from his eyes, silver arcs of electricity began to spread across his entire body. His aura grew stronger, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex phantom behind him became increasingly solid.
Yu Zhentian extended his index finger and lightly touched Yu Xiaogang's forehead. Stimulated by the soul power, Yu Xiaogang's body began to change.
The same blue mist surged from his body, the best proof of his direct lineage from the Yu family. As the mist gradually condensed, the shape of his Martial Soul slowly became clear—the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex… but it didn't appear. Instead, a… pig?
Even more unacceptable was the fact that the crystal ball showed Yu Xiaogang's soul power was only half of level one!
At this level, even if he became a Soul Master, he would probably be the weakest among them.
"..."
The entire palace seemed to hold its breath for a moment, followed by a clamor.
All that anticipation from everyone had led to this result?
Yu Zhentian, who was closest, stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his face turning pale.
"His martial soul has mutated! A useless martial soul! It's actually a useless martial soul!"
Someone shouted, startling Yu Xiaogang from his shock.
"Only half a level of innate soul power?"
"A majestic and powerful dragon-type martial soul, mutated into this pig-like state..."
"..."
A murmur of discussion arose from the crowd below.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yu Xiaogang could no longer bear to stay. He turned and ran out of the palace in despair.
"Xiaogang!" His mother, Chen Yao, hurriedly chased after him.
Watching her brother leave, covering his face, Yu Xiaolie, though having already anticipated this outcome, still felt a deep sense of sorrow.
Just then, he heard Yu Zhentian, suppressing his emotions and feigning composure, call his name:
"Xiao Lie, you're next."
(End of Chapter)